The week of September 11-17, beginning
with Grandparents’ Day, is designated as the week to honor assisted
living. This year’s theme is Keep Connected. In 2005, 2% of older
adults used social media; today, 35% do. It seems Granny is keeping up
with the times!
Social
media plays a great role in the lives of many seniors, including residents of
assisted living. By staying connected with family members who live far
away, they don’t feel as disconnected and lonely. Family members at a
distance also appreciate staying “in the loop” with their loved one’s care and
lifestyle. One of my residents was reassured to Skype with her grandson
while he was deployed in Afghanistan.
The field
of assisted living continues to evolve, primarily in response to market
demands. There is no standard definition of assisted living due to this
ambiguity. For this reason, those potential residents and their families
should determine what services they require now, and are likely to require in
the next few years. Costs will vary greatly depending upon the services
offered. If the loved one can still be independent with many household
tasks, can he/she perform them? If the person loses that ability, then
can staff supplement and provide assistance?
A valuable
guide to help in evaluating needs and making decisions can be found at http://www.helpguide.org/articles/senior-housing/assisted-living-facilities.htm.
During
this special week of recognition, let’s express appreciation to the caregivers
in assisted living, and recognize the valuable accomplishments that our
assisted living residents have made. May our understanding and provision
of assisted living services continue to evolve to meet the needs of our beloved
seniors!
Contributed by Philip C. DuBois, CNHA, FACHCA
Program Manager, Long Term Care Administration, Saint Joseph's College
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